TravMedia completed a successful International Media Marketplace (IMM) Virtual Asia yesterday, sponsored by Tourism Australia. IMM Virtual Asia played host to more than 80 media and PR industry representatives from fifteen countries around the world on 27 and 28 October 2020.

The two-day virtual event provided a springboard for industry professionals to reboot travel discussions with top travel journalists, editors and influencers as borders and green lanes across Asia start to open.

TravMedia's enhanced virtual platform allowed for 16 prescheduled meetings with media across the two days, in the comfort of attendees' home or office.  IMM Virtual Asia also included press conferences from Tourism Australia, The Promotion Bureau for the Principality of Monaco and Macao Government Tourism Board; and sponsored lunch break videos from Tourism Authority of Thailand, Maldives Marketing and PR Corporation and Luxury Lodges of Australia.

Day two commenced with an editor's panel hosted by TravMedia's CEO, Nick Wayland, interviewing Vivienne Tang, Founder & CEO of Destination Deluxe; Karishma Tulsidas, Editor-in-Chief and Charmaine Tai, Travel Editor and Content Strategist of Robb Report Singapore and Thailand; and Mark Footer, Travel Editor, South China Morning Post.

Tatler Asia's Editor-in-Chief, Kissa Castañeda said "It was run very well and I really enjoyed the automatic meeting element – really takes out the hassle of dialing in and out. Attending the virtual event made me realise how much I miss meeting with the rest of the travel community."

Lou Simonetta, Senior Manager, PR for Sheraton Grand and The St. Regis Macao added "while it would have been ideal to have the event in person, the platform for this year's event is brilliant and a great alternative. Plaudits to you all for persevering despite the challenges going on in the industry today."

"TravMedia aims to be the conduit for idea generation and relationship-building globally. While we can't meet face-to-face right now, we were able to host PR and media attendees tuning in from China, Japan, India, Maldives, Qatar, Australia, Switzerland and all across Asia. We are thrilled to be able to connect brands and media anywhere in the world,” said CEO Wayland.

TravMedia's IMM Asia is the travel industry's only global media networking event connecting travel and tourism brands with Asia's top-tier media titles. IMM Virtual provides destinations, hotels and tour operators the opportunity to reconnect, pitch stories and develop lasting relationships with key media contacts. Hosted in the same trusted format of previous IMM's, IMM Virtual is run through TravMedia's bespoke Media Marketplace platform now enhanced with video conferencing capabilities. Customised virtual event spaces enabled attendees to share press releases, stories, images and videos during their appointments.

Sponsored by Tourism Australia, Tourism Australia's Executive General Manager Eastern Markets and Aviation, Andrew Hogg, addressed attendees on how travel to Australia looks now and in the future. 

The Promotion Bureau for the Principality of Monaco inspired attendees to discover Monaco with a 30-minute press conference including a live cross to the Princess Grace Suite at the Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo. 

Macao Government Tourism Board shared stories about the food, culture and heritage of one of Asia's most vibrant cities.

IMM Virtual provided journalists the opportunity to fill their notebooks with ideas, stories and contacts in this new reality. Media attendees met with some of the world's biggest travel brands from hotels, cruise lines, tour operators and tourism boards and heard how they've adapted due to Coronavirus and their plans to promote their products.

IMM Virtual France will be held on 17-18 November 2020; and IMM Virtual USA from 27-29 January 2021.

-EDITOR'S NOTES –

TravMedia is the travel industry's only global media network. Founded in Sydney in 1999 by a travel editor seeking an easier way to research and report travel news, TravMedia is the one-stop solution trusted by travel PR professionals and media around the world to network and share press releases, stories and ideas. The platform has created a thriving online community and become an essential daily tool to collaborate and develop long-lasting relationships like never before.

TravMedia is now established in nine countries, serviced by twelve offices, and connects over 45,000 travel professionals including 25,000 editors and journalists in all corners of the world. TravMedia services include IMM (International Media Marketplace), The TravMedia Summit, TravTrade and the new bespoke tools Media Intelligence and Influencer Manager. For more information visit: www.travmedia.com

TravMedia's International Media Marketplace (IMM) is where the travel industry and media meet. The inaugural IMM was held in 2013 in the UK and Australia, following years of successfully hosting media marketplaces at trade shows around the world. Since then, IMM events have been held in Australia (Sydney and Brisbane), Asia (Macao and Singapore), USA (New York) Brazil (San Paolo), UK (London), Germany (Berlin) and most recently France (Paris). 

For more information on TravMedia's global IMM events visit www.travmedia.com/imm or email immaus@travmedia.com. 

To arrange an interview or for additional information about IMM Virtual Asia 2020, please contact Chief Marketing Officer Julie Ott at julie.ott@travmedia.com.

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